Ideas from Mark Stout

On their blog today, Evernote announced a shiny new web interface .  It is still a work in progress and missing a few features, but it is more like the Windows client then the old web interface was. Why would you use the web interface?  Maybe you are at the library or somewhere else you are working on some one else's computer. The big reason I think Evernote is putting the effort here is so Evernote will have a good presence on the Chrome OS.  Sixty thousand laptop were given away with Chrome OS on it, and the reviews seem good.  This summer, inexpensive laptops (I hear like $200) will be coming out with Chrome OS. I think a lot of non-geek users will love Chrome OS.  No antivirus programs needed.  Lots of good, free software (like Evernote and Google Docs).  And very little self maintenance needed to maintain the environment.  I think it could be a big winner for family users.

My Family Tech column this week is about Dropbox.  My wife and I consider it be one of the best tools we use, if not the best. See the column for a description of the value of Dropbox.  Links mentioned in the column are here . Dropbox is so widely used, many have built little utilities to make it even more useful. I mention in the column one of its best uses is to unify the eco system between your PCs and your phone.  I can save a file to Dropbox on my PC, and  view it on my phone. Note: I have't used most of these tools except where noted. What if you get an email on your phone with an attachment you want to store in your Dropbox?  iOS on Apple products (iPad, iPhone etc.) won't let a user save a file to Dropbox.  My GMail app on my Android phone won't let me either.  Enter  sendtodropbox.com .  This free service links to your Dropbox and gives you an email address.  Any email you send to that address with...

Your phone knows where it is.  Your apps can use that information to your benefit and to your peril. This week's Family Tech column .

Digital is not forever.  Musings on CD longevity and how history will see our times with mostly digital source material to draw from.  Will there be much digital source material to survive?   A Family Tech column .

I've started what should be an interesting new chapter in my life, and I have yet to adjust my rhythm of getting things done around it.  One of those things, is updating here when a new Family Tech column comes out. March 6, I wrote about new tablets on the market .

A few weeks ago my Family Tech column was about using online tools for wedding  planning .  Today, Evernote posted a blog entry regarding using Evernote for wedding planning .  It has some good ideas.

There's no doubt I love Google Voice.  Now sad news from Google.  They are closing down Gizmo5.  The desktop VOIP client usable with Google Voice will be no more. Google bought Gizmo and integrated its technology into the their Gmail phone service.  Rumor has it that there was once a wonderful Google developed/Gizmo5 based Windows Voip client being tested inside Google, but it will never see the light of day.  They instead want 100% web options. TechCrunch has all the history and a copy of the email going out to Gizmo users.

It's the ultimate personal collaborative project.  Wedding planning involves the new couple, and their families.  Anything that can help this new group work together smoothly is a good thing.  Online wedding planning is the topic of this week's Family Tech .